The Rise of Vlaams Belang: Impact of Dutch Politics on Flanders

2023-11-23 19:30:00

Tom Van Grieken, the president of Vlaams Belang, told Gazet van Antwerpen that he already sees himself having a coffee with Geert Wilders at the “Torentje”, the residence of the Dutch Prime Minister in The Hague. He dreams, even if he knows that anything can still happen, of seeing “his friend Geert” succeed Mark Rutte, who has now resigned. What is certain is that the victory of the Dutch Islamophobic party, as overwhelming as it was unexpected, gives wings to the followers of Tom Van Grieken in Flanders. Vlaams Belang has always claimed that migration policy in our country remains a huge failure. However, in the Netherlands, this theme was at the heart of the legislative campaign. Just like the cost of living…

Jan Jambon does not completely close the door to Belang

Purchasing power above all

The victory of the Islamophobic party of Geert Wilders, nicknamed the Bulldozer, confirms what most political observers had predicted: the Dutch are very concerned regarding the migratory puzzle. Exactly like in Flanders. Even if the guarantee of purchasing power remains the top priority for many Flemish people.

Is Flanders moving, following the victory of the far-right in the Netherlands, towards a populist revolution, modeled on the Dutch model? Peter Van Aelst, professor of political communication at the University of Antwerp, thinks so. “If Vlaams Belang confirms its breakthrough in June (according to polls, the far-right might garner between 25 and 30% of the votes, Editor’s note), I don’t see how the cordon santé might resist. The VVD (People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, which can be compared to the N-VA) declared during the campaign that it would not automatically rule out an alliance with Wilders’ PVV. A promise from which Wilders took advantage,” underlines the professor.

After this political tidal wave beyond Moerdijk, Belang feels itself growing wings in Flanders. But to gain power in Flanders, he still has to go through several steps. “Having learned from its mistakes, the party knows that it must water its wine,” observes Peter Van Aelst. Tom Van Grieken, however, must deal with rebel elected officials on several fronts. His Dutch counterpart, Geert Wilders, does not face this problem. He’s the boss, he decides alone. Van Grieken has watered down certain points in his program and is trying to rule out rebels such as Dries Van Langenhove. But he can’t go too far either. Vlaams Belang is playing a double game on the ground by refusing to sanction certain elected officials such as Filip Dewinter.”

Our interlocutor also underlines that the far-right has appropriated themes in the economic and social sphere. “The party knows that it must appeal to the general public and not always fish in the same pool. He also knows that he does not have a monopoly on ideas on migration. Conversely, other parties (notably the centrists) have recycled the ideas of the far-right. On the reception of migrants, public opinion seems to adopt more rigid, harsher positions: it is a shift to the right which can benefit it.”

Why Vlaams Belang is making the independence of Flanders a major electoral issue

“Not the end of the world but rather the end of the month”

Patrick Van Gompel, journalist and specialist in the Netherlands in particular for VTM, observes that the Flemish far-right is surfing on the same social themes as Wilders’ Dutch PVV. ” Vlaams Belang does not talk regarding the end of the world but rather the end of the month. He says climate and migration cost the taxpayer too much. And his speech influences others. Bart De Wever decided that the N-VA campaign should focus on the cost of living and prosperity. He also wants to appropriate the theme of migration which Belang still claims to be the father of,” recalls the journalist.

“I also think that the war once morest Hamas played a role in Geert Wilders’ victory. The Netherlands has always been pro-Israel. Many Dutch believe that Islamists are responsible for the war in Gaza. Many Dutch people admire the Israeli government. At home, many human rights sympathizers (for the Palestinian people) marched in the streets. Defending the Palestinian cause in Flanders brings votes to Vlaams Belang,” recalls Patrick Van Gompel.

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